Cusco Main Square
The Plaza de Armas of Cusco is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and cozy places that has gone through many changes and sublime processes is located in the city of Cusco, Peru in the historic center of the city and main public space since before the Spanish foundation in 1534.
Originally a successful swamp that was corroborated by geological studies, during the Inca empire this swamp was dried and transformed into the religious, cultural and administrative center of the Inca capital, it is there where all kinds of ceremonies and celebrations of victories of the Inca army took place. In colonial times, after the conquest by the Spaniards, this square was transformed into a plaza where they built lots, mansions, Catholic temples and palaces on the foundations of Inca palaces.
In 1781, the Plaza de Armas was the place of execution of Tupac Amaru II and several heroes of the independence of Peru.
Today Cusco’s Plaza de Armas is surrounded by tourist restaurants, jewelry stores, tourist agencies, souvenir stores and churches of the Society of Jesus and the Cathedral of Cusco.
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Meaning of the Plaza de Armas
According to Maria Rostoworowski the name comes from the word Aucaypata which means in the Quechua language Awqay (place of the warrior), it is because of this that leads many historians like Victor Angles mentions that it comes from the word Huacaypata (Huacay Pata) “place of weeping”. Where the author was a place of ceremonies ended in tears and were banned by the archbishop of those years.
History of the Plaza de Armas
Upon the arrival of Manco Capac to the valley of Cusco, he settled around a swamp that was located where today is the main square, a place free of neighboring ethnic groups. This swamp was formed due to the continuous irrigation of the Shapy and Tullumayu rivers. Manco Capac built his palace called Colcampata on the Sacsayhuaman plateau and the city was built around the swamp with earth brought from the mountains and later Pachacutec was in charge of draining the swamp by covering it with sand brought from the surrounding areas.
In the Inca period, the main square was the most extensive area, where the royal palaces of the Inca rulers Pachacutec, Huayna Capac and Viracocha were located.
- Qasana Cancha belonging to Pachacutec located where today is the portal of Panes and the streets Plateros, Tigre, Tecsecocha and Procuradores.
- Amaru Cancha belonging to Huayna Capac located to the southeast of the main square where today is occupied by the church of the Company of Jesus, Portal Company, University Auditorium and the Palace of Justice circumscribed by the streets Loreto, Mantas and the avenue the Sun.
- Sunturwasi belonging to Viracocha where today is occupied by the cathedral of Cusco.
Plaza Cusco during the Incanate the Plaza de Armas was a place of Inca festivities including the IntiRaymi, Huarachicuy, Amaru Dance, Capac Raymi, etc.. It was also a place of celebrations of victories and conquests made by the Inca army was the place where they were received and exhibited prisoners of war as a sign of victories.
Later the Inca palaces were built and converted into viceroyal mansions, cathedrals, temples and chapels. In 1545 Polo de Ondegardo commanded to remove the sand that was in the square to use it in the construction of the Cathedral of Cusco, in 1555 the corregidor Sebastian Garcilaso de la Vega authorized the construction of buildings and generate blocks located around the Plaza de Armas.
The Plaza de Armas was a place of celebrations in colonial times where folkloric expressions such as Santiranticuy, Corpus Christi, Holy Week and modern festivities such as Patriotic Festivities, New Year’s Eve, etc.
